1985 Belfast City Council election
17 May 1985
All 51 seats to Belfast City Council
26 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Party Ulster Unionist DUP Alliance
Seats won 14 11 8
Seat change Increase 1 Decrease 4 Increase 1
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Party Sinn Féin SDLP Ind. Unionist
Seats won 7 6 2
Seat change Increase 7 Steady 0 Increase 1
  Seventh party Eighth party Ninth party
 
Party Workers' Party PUP Protestant Unionist
Seats won 1 1 1
Seat change Increase 1 Steady 0 Increase 1
Lord Mayor before election

Alfie Ferguson
Ulster Unionist

 Lord Mayor

John Carson
Ulster Unionist

Elections to Belfast City Council were held on 15 May 1985 on the same day as the other Northern Irish local government elections. The election used nine district electoral areas to elect a total of 51 councillors, most representing the more heavily populated north and west.

The UUP became the largest party, overtaking the DUP and John Carson became the Lord Mayor.

Election results

Belfast Local Election Result 1985[1]
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Ulster Unionist 14 1 0 Increase1 27.5 24.4 28,165 Increase0.7
  DUP 11 0 4 Decrease3 21.6 19.9 23,052 Decrease5.9
  Alliance 8 1 0 Increase1 15.7 11.5 13,286 Decrease1.7
  Sinn Féin 7 7 0 Increase7 13.7 15.6 18,077 New
  SDLP 6 0 0 Steady0 11.8 14.2 16,479 Increase0.1
  Ind. Unionist 2 1 0 Increase1 3.9 3.5 4,091 Increase1.6
  Workers' Party 1 1 0 Increase1 2.0 3.8 4,432 Decrease0.1
  Protestant Unionist 1 1 0 Increase1 2.0 2.6 2,970 Increase2.6
  PUP 1 0 0 Steady0 2.0 2.2 2,588 Increase0.3
  People's Democracy 0 0 2 Decrease1 0 0.1 131 Decrease3.6
  Ulster Democratic 0 0 1 Decrease1 0 0.5 536 Decrease1.8
  Labour Party NI 0 0 0 Steady0 0 0.6 731 New
  Labour and Trade Union 0 0 0 Steady0 0 0.5 556 New
  Green (NI) 0 0 0 Steady0 0 0.3 308 New
  Communist 0 0 0 Steady0 0 0.2 245 Steady0.0

Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes.

Districts summary

[1]

Results of the Belfast City Council election, 1985
by district
Ward  %
Cllrs
  %
Cllrs
  %
 Cllrs
  %
 Cllrs
  %
 Cllrs
  %
 Cllrs
  %
 Cllrs
  %
 Cllrs
 Total
Cllrs
UUP DUP Alliance Sinn Féin SDLP Workers' Party PUP Others
Balmoral 41.7 2 25.5 2 18.5 1 0.0 0 10.4 0 1.0 0 0.0 0 2.9 0 5
Castle 32.7 2 17.1 1 9.6 1 0.0 0 19.6 1 3.4 0 0.0 0 17.6 1 6
Court 21.6 2 17.9 1 5.1 0 3.5 0 0.0 0 1.3 0 24.2 1 36.1 2 6
Laganbank 30.0 2 22.1 1 20.8 1 16.9 1 5.6 0 5.0 0 0.0 0 2.1 0 5
Lower Falls 0.0 0 0.0 0 9.4 1 57.2 3 23.4 1 9.4 0 0.0 0 0.6 0 5
Oldpark 17.5 1 11.4 1 3.7 0 28.5 2 16.1 1 9.4 1 3.0 0 10.4 0 6
Pottinger 28.9 2 47.5 3 8.3 1 4.6 0 2.8 0 2.4 0 3.2 0 2.3 0 6
Upper Falls 0.0 0 2.9 0 7.3 1 44.1 2 39.2 2 3.1 0 0.0 0 3.4 0 5
Victoria 42.5 3 33.2 2 23.1 2 0.0 0 1.2 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 7
Total 24.4 14 19.9 11 11.5 8 15.6 7 14.2 6 3.8 1 2.2 1 8.4 3 51

District results

Balmoral

1985: 2 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance

Balmoral - 6 seats[2]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
12345678
Ulster Unionist Mary Crooks* 19.07% 2,438              
Ulster Unionist Jim Kirkpatrick 14.23% 1,820 2,014.16 2,061.12 2,137.12        
DUP William Dickson* 12.81% 1,638 1,660.56 1,676.68 1,931.32 2,321.32      
Alliance John Montgomery 10.37% 1,326 1,329.12 1,426.48 1,430.6 1,488.68 1,497.39 2,449.39  
DUP John Parkes 7.80% 998 1,009.28 1,032.64 1,281.76 1,536 1,691.44 1,780.22 1,908.19
SDLP Dorita Field 10.42% 1,332 1,332.24 1,446.24 1,448.24 1,457.24 1,457.24 1,587.04 1,772.63
Alliance David Cook* 8.15% 1,042 1,054 1,180.48 1,191.08 1,345.04 1,367.82    
Ulster Unionist James Stewart* 8.38% 1,071 1,102.08 1,127.68 1,166.44        
DUP Clarke Gibson 7.80% 620 633.68 646.8          
Labour Party NI Stanley Graham 1.45% 186 187.08            
Workers' Party Shaun McKeown 1.04% 133 133.12            
Ind. Unionist Victor Brennan 0.99% 127 127.6            
Ind. Unionist William Stevenson* 0.44% 56 57.44            
Electorate: 23,220   Valid: 12,787 (55.07%)   Spoilt: 315   Quota: 2,132   Turnout: 13,102 (56.43%)  

    Castle

    1985: 2 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent Unionist

    Castle - 6 seats[2]
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    12345678
    Ulster Unionist John Carson* 24.23% 3,153              
    SDLP Alban Maginness 15.19% 1,977              
    Ind. Unionist Frank Millar* 12.47% 1,623 1,812.83 1,813.08 1,836.49 1,863.28      
    DUP Nigel Dodds 11.54% 1,502 1,622.95 1,623 1,625.05 1,632.51 2,179.51    
    Ulster Unionist Alfred Redpath 8.51% 1,107 1,783.5 1,783.5 1,797.73 1,821.83 1,916.83    
    Alliance Tom Campbell 6.14% 799 822.37 825.42 919.79 1,333.54 1,337.77 1,351.99 1,870.99
    Ind. Unionist William Gault* 5.18% 674 892.94 893.04 903.86 915.55 980.31 1,280.51 1,281.51
    SDLP John Murphy 4.45% 579 581.87 672.17 864.67 885.52 885.52 887.89  
    DUP Michael Whittley 5.43% 706 726.5 726.5 733.5 739.32      
    Alliance Robert Jamison 3.45% 449 474.42 475.87 530.04        
    Workers' Party Katherine Johnston 3.41% 444 448.51 451.06          
    Electorate: 24,488   Valid: 12,003 (49.02%)   Spoilt: 323   Quota: 1,715   Turnout: 12,326 (50.33%)  

      Court

      1985: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x PUP, 1 x Protestant Unionist, 1 x Independent Unionist

      Court - 5 seats[2]
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      123456789
      Protestant Unionist George Seawright* 24.39% 2,970                
      PUP Hugh Smyth* 14.46% 1,761                
      DUP Frederick Ashby* 11.66% 1,420 1,591.36 1,593.78 1,681.1 1,682.1 1,732.92 2,186.92    
      Ulster Unionist Herbert Ditty 9.83% 1,197 1,288.98 1,296.98 1,312.28 1,313.28 1,618.2 1,695.52 1,781.52  
      Ulster Unionist Fred Cobain 6.60% 804 846 847 856.1 858.1 1,028.28 1,101.26 1,216.26 1,457.46
      Ind. Unionist Joseph Coggle* 7.34% 894 1,134.66 1,139.08 1,144.76 1,146.76 1,201.2 1,266.44 1,336.44 1,471.32
      Ulster Democratic Samuel Doyle 4.40% 536 837.56 842.98 859.22 860.22 946.5 1,004.12 1,050.12 1,097.32
      Alliance William Dukelow 5.14% 626 642.38 730.8 732.64 874.64 899.16 907 914  
      DUP William Baxter 4.70% 572 706.4 708.82 800.34 800.34 826.64      
      Ulster Unionist James Sands 5.13% 624 750 751 773.24 773.24        
      Sinn Féin Harry Fitzsimmons 3.55% 432 432.42 463.42 463.42          
      DUP Robert Morrow 1.49% 182 260.96 261.38            
      Workers' Party Peter Cullen 1.29% 157 161.62              
      Electorate: 22,375   Valid: 12,175 (54.41%)   Spoilt: 372   Quota: 1,740   Turnout: 12,547 (56.08%)  

        Laganbank

        1985: 2 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance

        Laganbank - 5 seats[2]
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        123456789
        Ulster Unionist William Blair* 17.92% 1,969                
        Alliance William McDowell 12.97% 1,425 1,456 1,808 1,811.15 1,841.15        
        SDLP Alasdair McDonnell* 10.69% 1,175 1,194 1,220 1,220.35 1,448.35 1,449.56 1,797.63 2,727.63  
        Ulster Unionist Dixie Gilmore 6.62% 727 733 741 841.8 844.94 1,358.26 1,387.61 1,398.61 1,513.61
        DUP Rhonda Paisley 12.06% 1,325 1,334 1,338 1,344.51 1,344.51 1,408.98 1,419.33 1,419.33 1,427.33
        DUP Raymond McCrea* 10.03% 1,102 1,107 1,108 1,116.61 1,117.61 1,146.52 1,152.59 1,152.59 1,160.59
        SDLP Gerard McKettrick 7.58% 833 844 876 876 949 949 1,068    
        Workers' Party Gerard Carr 5.01% 550 635 655 656.19 755.26 757.33      
        Ulster Unionist Robert Wilson 5.50% 604 615 617 632.47 632.54        
        Sinn Féin Michael Conlon 5.59% 614 624 627 627.35          
        Alliance Dan McGuinness 3.95% 434 455              
        Labour and Trade Union Robert Millar 0.91% 100                
        NI Labour John King 0.66% 73                
        Communist Michael Morrissey 0.52% 57                
        Electorate: 20,934   Valid: 10,988 (52.49%)   Spoilt: 297   Quota: 1,832   Turnout: 11,285 (53.91%)  

          Lower Falls

          1985: 3 x Sinn Féin, 1 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance

          Lower Falls - 5 seats[2]
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          1234
          SDLP Joe Hendron* 22.06% 2,606      
          Sinn Féin Sean McKnight 16.41% 1,939 1,963 1,985.4  
          Alliance Will Glendinning* 9.42% 1,113 1,195 1,549.48 2,015.48
          Sinn Féin Sean Keenan 14.83% 1,752 1,764 1,795.36 1,845.2
          Sinn Féin Elizabeth Fitzsimons 13.50% 1,595 1,609 1,649.6 1,697.4
          Sinn Féin Fra McCann 12.42% 1,467 1,472 1,499.44 1,552.4
          Workers' Party Mary McMahon 9.44% 1,115 1,168 1,312.2  
          SDLP Sean Mullan 1.35% 159      
          Communist Desmond Murray 0.57% 67      
          Electorate: 21,058   Valid: 11,813 (56.10%)   Spoilt: 450   Quota: 1,969   Turnout: 12,263 (58.23%)  

            Oldpark

            1985: 2 x Sinn Féin, 1 x UUP, 1 x SDLP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Workers' Party

            Oldpark - 6 seats[2]
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            12345678910111213
            Ulster Unionist Fred Proctor 12.54% 1,800 1,820 1,903 1,918 2,013 2,125              
            Sinn Féin Bobby Lavery 12.20% 1,752 1,765 1,766 1,786 1,793 1,794 2,373            
            Sinn Féin Gerard McGuigan 10.93% 1,570 1,576 1,576 1,585 1,591 1,591 1,726 2,030.7          
            SDLP Brian Feeney* 10.56% 1,516 1,544 1,544 1,677 1,841 1,842 1,863 1,867.4 1,867.4 2,475.4      
            Workers' Party Seamus Lynch 9.36% 1,344 1,383 1,386 1,531 1,696 1,701 1,731 1,735.4 1,735.4 1,895.5 2,226.5    
            DUP Peter Lunn 6.67% 958 974 1,054 1,056 1,082 1,523 1,523 1,523 1,537.6 1,539.6 1,542.6 1,549.6 1,824.6
            Ulster Unionist David Smylie 4.94% 709 717 813 817 857 983 985 985 1,036.83 1,039.83 1,041.83 1,066.83 1,573.83
            Ind. Unionist Nelson McCausland 4.99% 717 729 815 825 872 919 920 920 926.57 930.57 934.57 951.57  
            SDLP Patrick Hunter 5.48% 787 812 814 867 913 913 922 924.2 924.2        
            Sinn Féin Paddy McManus 5.39% 774 781 781 787 787 787              
            DUP Pauline Whittley 4.76% 684 691 735 739 748                
            Alliance Arnold Carton 3.73% 535 597 618 695                  
            Labour Party NI Paddy Devlin* 3.29% 472 506 518                    
            PUP Patrick Bird 3.02% 433 444                      
            Green (NI) Peter Emerson 2.14% 308                        
            Electorate: 25,774   Valid: 14,359 (55.71%)   Spoilt: 389   Quota: 2,052   Turnout: 14,748 (57.22%)  

              Pottinger

              1985: 3 x DUP, 2 x UUP, 1 x Alliance

              Pottinger - 6 seats[2]
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              12345678
              DUP Sammy Wilson* 19.99% 2,454              
              DUP Frank Leslie 18.11% 2,224              
              Ulster Unionist Margaret Clarke 16.28% 1,999              
              DUP Jim Walker 9.39% 1,153 1,763.12            
              Ulster Unionist Reg Empey 9.10% 1,117 1,143.6 1,442.8 1,630.12 1,659.16 1,660.5 1,756.5  
              Alliance Mervyn Jones 8.30% 1,019 1,026.56 1,039.48 1,044.64 1,127.4 1,272.74 1,309.88 1,547.28
              Ulster Unionist Harry Fletcher 3.51% 431 449.2 546.1 569.38 594.16 595.16 706.38 727.66
              Sinn Féin Joseph O'Donnell 4.61% 566 566 566 566 572.28 634.6 635.6 713.42
              Workers' Party Francis Cullen 2.47% 303 304.12 306.5 312.02 398.48 496.48 514.94  
              PUP David Ervine 3.21% 394 402.12 442.58 448.1 459.68 460.68    
              SDLP Carmel Maginness 2.77% 340 340.28 342.32 342.32 353.66      
              Labour and Trade Union Stan Dempsey 1.78% 218 219.68 227.16 232.44        
              Communist James Stewart 0.25% 61 64.08 66.8 67.16        
              Electorate: 24,757   Valid: 12,279 (49.60%)   Spoilt: 506   Quota: 1,755   Turnout: 12,785 (51.64%)  

                Upper Falls

                1985: 2 x Sinn Féin, 2 x SDLP, 1 x Alliance

                Upper Falls - 5 seats[2]
                PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                123456789
                SDLP Alex Attwood 19.35% 2,461                
                Sinn Féin Alex Maskey 18.30% 2,329                
                Sinn Féin Teresa Holland 17.73% 2,256                
                SDLP Cormac Boomer* 13.01% 1,655 1,890.43 1,897.72 1,900.42 1,903.42 1,958.24 2,028.22 2,161.22  
                Alliance Pip Glendinning 7.32% 931 947.38 949.9 951.16 955.16 958.73 994.31 1,334.43 1,805.43
                Sinn Féin Mairtin O'Muilleoir 8.01% 1,031 1,034.25 1,214.16 1,334.58 1,339.82 1,410.1 1,440.06 1,461.64 1,561.64
                SDLP Mary Muldoon* 6.28% 799 834.36 840.84 843.36 850.36 903.78 940.23 1,035.15  
                Workers' Party Gerald McCann 3.03% 386 389.77 390.67 391.63 405.76 413.51 463.37    
                DUP Irene Lewis 2.92% 372 372.39 372.39 372.51 372.6 372.6 374.6    
                Labour and Trade Union Michael Duffy 1.87% 238 243.2 244.82 246.14 255.14 273.81      
                People's Democracy John McAnulty* 1.03% 131 131.91 137.67 140.73 146        
                SDLP Peter Prendiville 0.57% 72 87.86 88.04 88.28 90.5        
                Communist Kevin McCorry 0.47% 60 60.39 61.11 61.17          
                Electorate: 23,327   Valid: 12,721 (54.53%)   Spoilt: 331   Quota: 2,121   Turnout: 13,052 (55.95%)  

                  Victoria

                  1985: 3 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 2 x Alliance

                  Victoria - 7 seats[2]
                  PartyCandidateFPv%Count
                  1234567
                  DUP Wallace Browne 22.22% 3,447            
                  Ulster Unionist Thomas Patton* 15.41% 2,390            
                  Alliance Oliver Napier* 14.89% 2,309            
                  Ulster Unionist William Corry* 11.85% 1,838 1,985.4          
                  Ulster Unionist Dorothy Dunlop 8.80% 1,365 1,425.28 1,595.14 1,596.58 1,619.62 2,282.62  
                  Alliance George Thompson 8.23% 1,278 1,289.88 1,312.68 1,457.68 1,775.92 1,844.14 1,918.01
                  DUP Robin Newton 3.64% 564 1,611.64 1,636.15 1,640.03 1,644.03 1,772.26 1,910.87
                  DUP Samuel Walker 7.29% 1,131 1,330.76 1,400.49 1,401.68 1,408.72 1,579.34 1,708.82
                  Ulster Unionist John McCrea 6.46% 1,002 1,033.68 1,175.61 1,176.61 1,186.53    
                  SDLP Barry Gilheany 1.21% 188 189.76 190.33        
                  Electorate: 30,776   Valid: 15,512 (50.40%)   Spoilt: 427   Quota: 1,940   Turnout: 15,939 (51.79%)  

                    References

                    1. 1 2 "Belfast Council results". 27 July 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
                    2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Local Government Results 1985". EONI. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
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